To ask what you all did for your big 40

[SidSparrow]

Curious to know if I'm alone in having one of the worst birthdays ever! It was as special as a wet fart. It feels like the big 40 is something people really celebrate - is it?

My kid was isolating as a close contact of a covid+ at school so we watched a film and had a takeaway in our PJs!

Having spent the day at work, I went to a good local pub at the end of the working day with the gang from the office. I had reserved an area for our group, and arranged for finger food platters to be served at intervals through the evening.

DH joined me fairly early, and family/friends came in a bit later. Our whole street peeled ourselves into taxis at 2am, and landed into 1 house for another few glasses of celebratory bubbles before we called it a night.

And I had arranged to have another Leader cover me for Cub Scouts the following morning. (I was lucky it happened to occur on a Friday night).

These are strange times. We both had great 40ths but my husband’s recent 50th was very very low key. Too much uncertainty to arrange much.

Went on holiday to Paris - posh hotel - it was great

Mine is next year. Whatever I do it will be better than my 30th when my ds3 and ds1 kindly have me norovirus.

Stayed in on my own as it was during the first lockdown

My DH took me to New York.

We sound like middle class prats but l can assure you going abroad is a big deal for us. He saved all his spare cash for a year.

Went to Nice with a group of lovely friends.

Went to The Maldives 😍

Actually, I forgot that I also went on my first ski holiday that season.

Took myself to Vegas. Had a lovely time.

I don’t really like being the centre of attention so I decided to do on holiday for a week with DH and our young kids for my 40th. The actual day wasn’t wow or anything…went for a walk, swim and a cocktail. But the whole holiday was memorable and really enjoyable.
Had a mini party with immediate family when we returned.

I had a big party with a live band at a local golf club. It was brilliant! I love birthdays and the big ones are an excuse for a proper party.

I'm normally reticent about telling people about my birthday, but when I turned 40 DH was having terrible social anxiety. He suggested he pay for me and friends to stay at a hotel in London instead, so I could go out with friends but he didn't have to attend.
So I gathered friends from different eras of my life together and we went bar hopping together before flopping in a fancy hotel.
My favourite ever. It required extra effort from me but I finally realised that others would be happy to celebrate with me.
And DH was relieved too 😆

My husband took me for a lovely countryside walk (a pre-child hobby that we don't have time for these days) followed by lunch at the Ritz (brilliant experience). Then collected child from school and went for dinner at the O2. He'd also wanted to take me to a tulip festival but we ran out of time.

On his 40th, I'd arranged a surprise visit from his brother who lives in Australia and we all went out for lunch at a one Michelin star Indian restaurant. (I'd booked a three star Michelin but cancelled when his brother said he'd be able to make it - I'm not spending that much on a man who complains about everything he eats!) Oh and I gave him a Chromecast, which at that time was the latest, coolest tech!

I was supposed to be going to Las Vegas but lockdown 2 came into effect 2 days before my birthday so I sat in my living room and ate cake.

I had previously thought I would have a big party, but as it turned out it was only a couple of months before my wedding so I figured people wouldn't want to attend a party as well. On the day itself my sisters and one (adult) niece took me out for brunch, then I met DH in town as hed taken the afternoon off and we went shopping for my present, then to a museum, then for dinner. On the following day I had a lunch with family and a few friends and then a few of us stayed on in the bar for too long and drank too much. It was lovely.

I'm sorry you haven't had a good day. Can you plan something nice for next weekend?

I went on holiday to Mykonos with my younger sister. It was lovely & I had a great time!

Disneyland Paris - I have no regrets!!

@CMOTDibbler hope you get to enjoy your night away
Similar story here

Nothing.

Adult birthdays' dont rock my boat- mine or anyone else's.

Two nights in a posh country house hotel, with amazing dinner in the Michelin-starred restaurant on the first night (DD was with a babysitter and had room service for dinner, which was the highlight of her life so far - she was 4.) I'm nearly 50 now and am thinking what to do to mark that.

I was concealing a pregnancy from wider family as I was under 20 weeks and they weren't very supportive. I had morning sickness and was exhausted. I sat under a duvet and watched movies. To be honest I don't get making a big deal of things. My husband did treat me to a day zip lining after my youngest was born, so I can recommend that.

Lockdown birthday, homemade cake and sparkling wine instead of luxury spa weekend with my most favourite women ❤still.. so grateful for what I got

Sitting with my feet up mainly. Was towards the end of pregnancy with placenta previa. Had to stay within short distance of the hospital just in case so couldn't go anywhere much,but thad a meal out with family on the actual day.